In fact, an industry source told CBSSports.com on Thursday that Haith is interested in the opening, and that he'd absolutely leave Miami if presented with a respectable offer. Furthermore, the source said former Alabama coach CM Newton -- who is assisting the school in its search for Mark Gottfried's permanent replacement -- has privately backed Haith's candidacy, meaning Haith is a realistic option if for no other reason than that Newton has tremendous influence at Alabama (and in the SEC, in general).

Miami lost to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament Thursday, ensuring the Hurricanes will miss the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five years under Haith. Among the other serious candidates for the Alabama job is Missouri coach Mike Anderson, an Alabama native who has his Tigers ranked 14th nationally heading into Thursday night's game against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament.

John Calipari has claimed he wants to someday produce an undefeated season culminating with a national title.

He might have a realistic opportunity on tap.

"I think Memphis is in the lead right now," John Wall, the nation's top point guard, told Scout.com's Evan Daniels on Monday night. "I think Memphis has been in the lead for a while."

Obviously, this could all change.

Baylor or Kansas or Miami could be Wall's "leader" tomorrow.

But Wall labeling Memphis his "leader" a day after DeMarcus Cousins committed to the Tigers qualifies as a news worthy development, because -- considering Xavier Henry has already signed with the Tigers -- it now appears likely that Calipari will have three top six recruits on his roster next season, specifically the nation's No. 1 point guard (Wall), No. 1 shooting guard (Henry) and No. 2 center (Cousins). In recent history, that sort of trio would compare favorably to Ohio State's 2006 class featuring the No. 4 point guard (Mike Conley), No. 2 shooting guard (Daequan Cook) and No. 1 center (Greg Oden), or North Carolina's 2006 class featuring the No. 1 point guard (Ty Lawson), No. 1 shooting guard (Wayne Ellington) and No. 1 power forward (Brandan Wright).